In the race for the future of space travel, German labour minister Hubertus Heil has warned of a potential dominance by commercial firms.

“There must be no dominance by individual companies,’’ Mr Heil said in a dpa video interview at NASA in Houston.

During a visit to the U.S. space agency, Heil explored the trends and risks involved, and his conclusion was that the industry needs rules, especially “when it is global or goes beyond the globe.’’

Mr Heil said he had nothing against collaboration between the state and the industry in the area as he even saw it as important.

However, the German labour minister asserts that only in international cooperation between states could there be the necessary balance of public and private interests.

He said, “At NASA, you learn that the big questions of our time can only be solved through international cooperation.’’

Mr Heil gained relevant insights during his visit to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

He repeatedly had to duck his head, for instance, while walking through the International Space Station (ISS) modules.

Astronauts train in the model of the ISS that stands in the NASA hall.

In addition to seemingly endless control panels, monitors, and devices of all kinds, plants grew in small boxes under yellowish light and were used for research.

It became particularly tight when Mr Heil peered into a Soyuz space capsule.

The German guest had to bend deeply to stick his head through a circular hatch.

Only after several moments of intense observation of the cramped space did Mr Heil emerge again.

He murmured, acknowledging the astronauts’ frugality “that is both bathroom and kitchen and all.’’ 

(dpa/NAN)